ONE LAST WORD How often have you heard it said, “Winstanley is not like any other church I know”? That is what I was told when I came here as pastor seventeen years ago, and I still believe it to be true. I know Winstanley is not like any other church I have pastored. With its choir, unique missions focus, openness to the community, and unique collection of believers, so far as I know, it is not like any other Baptist church in the Metro East. To that end it serves a vital role.
9471 W. Hwy. 161 Fairview Heights, IL 62208 618-397-2010
The Window Volume 69, Issue 1, Jan. 2018 w w w.w i n b a p . o rg Check out our Facebook page & app
It is true that you have different feelings about the shape of worship. You have different musical preferences. You come from a wide geographical area. You have a variety of political opinions. You do not all look or sound alike. Yet all those things mean little, compared to the fact that you all profess faith in Jesus. Frankly, I am grateful for the mixture of lives that is Winstanley and think that mixture is the way God’s church should be. I value the fact that this family, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, is who it is. To me you sound and look a lot like the church described in Acts 2. You sound like Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” As I depart, I am praying that you will bear in mind this profound biblical truth. Jesus is and wants to be Lord of our individual and collective lives, future, thoughts, and opinions. Please hear this.
Search Committee Jim Bryant, Chairman Paul Flahan Ian Harrier Sally Horstmann Laura Osborn Dave Rochleau Linda Spradling Rick Haverman, alt.
Every one of you is part of this fellowship for a reason. You are not here by accident. God called you here. Every one of you contributes something important and vital to the church. Winstanley would be a diminished body without your presence and your service. You are the congregation’s present and you are its future. In my judgment, during the coming interim you must keep asking yourselves in what ways you can work together. A church does not exist for what any one of us can get out of it. It exists to serve God, to offer honor and praise to Him, and to minister to the many who do not yet know Him. God is first. Others are second. We are third. I am praying that you will keep your minds and hearts outward-focused. When God is receiving from His church what the church is supposed to offer, I suspect that the congregation will in return be blessed and grateful. You will realize that God’s Kingdom is even larger than the church. You can do it, my friends. I love you.
VAN DRIVERS Jan. 7 Mark Teichler Jan. 14 Bruce Hicks Jan. 21 Lance Lancaster Jan. 28 Mike Brown
Proud to have been your pastor, Dr. Steve
I’ve never been much of a singer. So I felt a little uneasy about our plan. I wasn’t sure if my voice would drive the elderly folks back into their November Report rooms, or possibly help bring some Christmas Bal. 10/31 $83,766.61 cheer. Thankfully, I was not caroling alone at the Receipts $29,972.00 Caseyville Nursing Home that Wednesday evenExpenditures $37,140.54 ing. Sally Horstmann and Kira Grindstaff led our Bal. 11/30 $76,598.07 youth through the halls singing carols such as “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” and others. During our time there, we had the opportunity to talk with several residents and even give out some hugs. A few people asked us where we Dates to Remember were from. As a result of our time spent at the December 24 Christmas Eve/Cantata nursing home that evening, I know our youth 6:00 pm helped bring much joy and encouragement to December 27 Reception for Dr. Steve the residents. I am also convinced that we re& Dawn, 4-7 pm NO WED. ACTIVITIES ceived just as much joy ourselves, if not more, from the experience. Sometimes we are provided December 31 No 8:15 am or with ministry opportunities that seem to take us 6:00 pm service out of our element, out of our area of expertise. January 1 Office Closed This is not a bad thing, especially when you are January 7 January Bible Study serving alongside your brothers and sisters in January 14 January Bible Study Christ. January 15 Office Closed January 17 January 21 January 28
Women on Mission January Bible Study Lord’s Supper January Bible Study Every Tuesday Romeo’s at 8 am, Juliet Breakfast at 8:30 am Every Thursday Open VB 7 pm
FROM THE LIBRARY… Tim Lahaye, Left Behind author has created a new series. It has faster-paced thrillers based on prophecies that are not covered in the Left Behind books. Michael Murphy is a scholar of Biblical prophecy and a field archaeologist. He defies danger and fearlessly hunts down and authenticates ancient artifacts from Biblical times. His latest discovery will send him hurtling from a life of excavations and revelations to a confrontation with the forces of the greatest evil. This man of courage is tested and proves ready to become a much needed hero for our times, and that’s just the beginning.
Fielding
WINTER BIBLE STUDY Fielding will be teaching from 1 Peter starting January 7-February 4. The study, will be preceded by lunch and be held in Garrison Hall.